ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Nigerian government is making a significant strategic shift in its approach to national security, launching the National Counter Terrorism Strategic Plan 2025–2030 while grappling with a fresh wave of mass abductions that have plunged the nation into crisis.

The new policy was unveiled on Monday by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), marking a renewed national commitment to tackling banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency.

New Plan: Vision, Discipline, and Ambition

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who unveiled the plan in Abuja, stressed that the strategy is more than just a document it is a commitment to protect lives and secure the nation for prosperity.

“As President of the Senate, I have seen how insecurity weakens the foundations of development. Investors withdraw, schools close, farmers abandon their fields, and hope retreats,” Akpabio stated. “The Strategic Plan 2025–2030 answers this question with vision, discipline and ambition.”

The five-year plan aims to strengthen defence, policing, intelligence coordination, and cybersecurity, with the long-term goal of positioning the NCTC as a regional hub for countering terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. The initiative stresses the need to invest in people, technology, training, and strategic partnerships with citizens and the international community.

Security Crisis Triggers Major Policy Decisions

The launch comes amid heightened national anxiety following a series of mass kidnappings in November 2025:

• Kebbi State: 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, were successfully released this week, prompting President Bola Tinubu to welcome their return and call for “more boots on the ground.”
• Niger State: A large-scale abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School saw over 300 students and teachers initially reported missing, with authorities ordering the closure of 47 boarding secondary schools nationwide as a precaution.
• Kwara State: All 38 kidnapped victims from a recent incident in Eruku were also freed on Sunday.

In a move to boost police presence in vulnerable communities, President Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons (VIPs). These officers will be immediately redeployed to concentrate on their core duties, while VIPs will now seek protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

International Cooperation and Economic Hardship

On the diplomatic front, the Federal Government recently engaged with US officials, resulting in an affirmation by the United States to deepen security cooperation through enhanced intelligence support and expedited requests for defence equipment.

Meanwhile, the economic reality remains a significant challenge, with the kidnapping crisis exacerbating hardship. The past week saw inflation continuing to climb, primarily driven by skyrocketing food prices, further eroding the purchasing power of the Naira. As the government pivots its security strategy, the public awaits tangible results that can stem the tide of violence and allow economic activity and daily life to return to normal.